Hygenic syringe unit

ABSTRACT

A syringe ensemble for use as a douche or for enema providing in a single unit a collapsible tubular container, holding a relatively stiff nozzle or insertion tube which can be withdrawn through the neck of the container into position for use. The container is filled with the solution desired and is sealed with a cap, which protects a short extending accessible end portion of the nozzle. The unit is intended primarily as a complete applicator ready for use, with the solution packaged in the container, embodies features which render it sterile, and disposable after use.

Cox

[ Aug. 12, 1975 HYGENIC SYRINGE UNIT [76] Inventor: Robert J. Cox, 1653 W. 219th St.,

Torrance, Calif. 90251 22 Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 465,373

[52] US. Cl 128/232; 128/251 [51] Int. Cl A61m l/00 [58] Field of Search 128/232, 251, 261, 260; 222/95 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,689 6/1912 Kelley 128/232 2,043,633 6/1936 Strauch 128/261 X 2,064,619 12/1936 Leonard et al. 128/232 2,065,795 12/1936 Colvin 128/261 X 2,083,603 6/1937 l-larwick.... 222/95 2,299,769 10/1942 Schulz 128/232 2,554,975 5/1951 Bendick 222/95 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,094,420 2/1972 France 128/232 432,842 8/1935 United Kingdom 128/232 Primary Examiner--Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner.l. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firml-luebner & Worrel [5 7 ABSTRACT A syringe ensemble for use as a douche or for enema providing in a single unit a collapsible tubular container, holding a relatively stiff nozzle or insertion tube which can be withdrawn through the neck of the container into position for use. The container is filled with the solution desired and is sealed with a cap, which protects a short extending accessible end portion of the nozzle. The unit is intended primarily as a complete applicator ready for use, with the solution packaged in the container, embodies features which render it sterile, and disposable after use.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTE Auui 21975 BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION In conventional syringe assemblies for douche or enema, whether of the durable bathroom reusable type, or less expensively made to be disposable, the nozzle is independent of the bag or container or is packaged or carried outside the bag or container.

Such an arrangement lends itself to possible contamination, or at least the necessity of care in proper cleansing. Moreover, in those prior devices with which I am familiar, none are packaged with the hygenic or other solution contained in the bag. Bottled solutions must be transferred, or powder and water solutions mixed in or transferred to the bag.

Such operations are traditional, but do present certain inconvenience, sometimes are performed under unsanitary conditions, require care in measurement and quantity, and are susceptible to human error in preparation. Even the exposure of the conventional nozzle to atmosphere or to external surface contact can result in contamination. Moreover, when travelling,

suitable bathroom conveniences and accessories are not always available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to eliminate, or at least materially reduce the inconveniences and risks indicated above.

To this end, I provide a douche or enema kit as a complete self-contained unit, including a collapsible container holding a one dose laboratory prepared solution, with a nozzle disposed within the container and conveniently extensible therefrom for use.

This unit offers not only controlled features of contents, dosage, and cleanliness, but is especially advantageous when travelling, because the unit is fully selfcontained and ready for use.

In addition to the foregoing features, it is desirable to provide for a protruding end portion of the nozzle to be releasably secured to a cap, enabling the nozzle to be withdrawn by pulling on the cap. Preferably, also, a slidable sleeve is captive at the closed end of the container opposite the neck, which can be pushed longitudinally of the container to collapse the same and express the contents. The principal intended exploitation is a one use disposable unit. Some of the inherent principles, however, may be adopted in providing a reusable device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a douche unit embodying the preferred form of the invention, including solution, sealed, as it would be delivered to a customer.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the unit with the cap removed and the nozzle in the process of being extended.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of the same nature as FIG. 3 showing a modification of the nozzle.

FIG. 6 is a section generally similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a refillable syringe embodying someof the features of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a container 10 in the form of an elongated collapsible tube. Preferably it is made of a clear thin walled resilient plastic. The size may vary, depending upon the intended use and the nature of the solution to be contained in it. It must be large enough not only to hold the desired quantity of solution, but to receive a nozzle 11.

The nozzle illustrated is of the general type designed for a douche. It is open at the inner or intake end 12, and is formed with a flare 13 which functions as a stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the nozzle from the container. Other forms of stop may be substituted. The outer or discharge end region 14 is provided with radially open discharge orifices 15. These orifices may be slanted downwardly and outwardly to assure lateral dispersion of fluid. For purposes of an enema the nozzle would substitute a straight through axial discharge port. In either case the nozzle must be relatively stiff. Usually it will be made of rubber or plastic. It has a through passage 16 from the intake end to the discharge orifices.

At the upper end the container is formed with a reinforced shoulder 20, which merges into a neck section 21, having external threads 22. This neck section should be relatively firm, which can be achieved by making it thicker than the overall wall of the container. A cap 24 formed with internal threads 25, engages the threads 22 on the neck section.

The neck section terminates in an annular collar 26 which affords an opening through which the nozzle extends. This collar should encircle the nozzle and engage the latter with sufficient frictional fit to prevent any substantial leakage during use as well as to retain the nozzle in extended position, but at the same time permit the nozzle to be drawn outwardly into position for use. The cap 24 has an internal shoulder 27 which seals with the upper surface 28 of the collar 26.

The container is filled with a suitable fluid indicated at 29.

When inserted in the container, the discharge end region 14 of the nozzle should remain at least slightly protruding from the collar, so that it is accessible for withdrawing the nozzle. The protruding end of the nozzle is protected prior to use by a dome 30 formed on the cap 24. The user could pull the nozzle out by grasping the protruding end, but in order to provide a sterile package, and avoid manual contact with the nozzle and reduce the possibility of contamination, I prefer to incorporate the means next described.

The dome 30 is of reduced diameter relative to the threaded portion of the cap, and is formed with longitudinal ribs 32, terminating in detents 33. The discharge end section of the nozzle has longitudinal grooves 35 extending forwardly from the orifices 15 along with the ribs and detents may slide. In assembly, the grooves guide the detents so they will be properly positioned to register with the orifices. The cap or the nozzle, or both, while firm, have sufficient resiliency so that the detents will snap into the orifices. This prevents the nozzle from being inadvertently pushed back into the container, and when the cap is unscrewed from the neck section, it may be pulled away, and the engagement of the dentents with the nozzle will result in bringing the nozzle out. When the stop on the latter reaches the collar 26, a further pull will spring the detents out of the orifices and upon removal of the cap the discharge end of the nozzle will be exposed for use.

In assembling the unit, while the end 36 of the container is open the nozzle is inserted into the container and pushed forward. When the nozzle protrudes sufficiently through the neck section, the dome of the cap is brought into engagement as described above, and the cap is then screwed on to the neck section. A liquid seal is provided by the shoulder 27 of the cap coming into pressure engagement with the upper surface 28 of the collar 26. The container is inverted and filled with the solution or mixture desired. Finally, the end 36 is closed by heat sealing or cement or otherwise in accordance with standard practice according to the material used.

If the fabrication of the parts and the assembly thereof and filling of the container and closing the same are performed under proper conditions, the interior of the container and the nozzle itself may be maintained sterile.

The contents of the container may be expressed through the nozzle simply by squeezing the wall of the container. When the use has been completed the whole syringe should be discarded.

Instead of manually squeezing the container to discharge the contents, I may optionally provide a slidable sleeve 40 at the closed end of the container. In such case, the closed end should be formed with a tab extension 41, with a bead 42 to retain the sleeve, and a bead 43 for the user to grasp when moving the sleeve toward the discharge end to collapse the container, thereby forcing out the contents.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS In lieu of the detent arrangement heretofore described, I may simplify the device by omitting the latter, making the interior of the dome 49 of the cap 48 with an unbroken surface, as shown in FIG. 5. In such case it is desirable to include an O ring 50 near the discharge end of the nozzle, outside the neck section of the container. The O ring or an external protuberance is for the purpose of preventing the nozzle from being inadvertently pushed back into the container. In this instance the nozzle is withdrawn for use by manually grasping the exposed end 51 of the nozzle after removing the cap 48.

FIG. 6 illustrates a refillable form of the device. Here the upper end 60 of the container is reinforced and formed with external threads 61. A cap 62 includes one threaded section 63 which engages the threads on the container, and a section 64 of reduced diameter to substitute for the neck section of the preferred embodiment. A closure cap 65 covering the end of the nozzle 1 1 1 screws onto the section 64. The relationship of the collar region 66 and the nozzle 11 1, including an O ring 150 may be as shown in FIG. 5, or I may utilize the arrangement shown in FIG. 3. To refill the container the larger cap 62 is unscrewed and replaced after filling.

Although I have described my invention in what I have conceived to be the preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A self-contained syringe unit for personal hygenic use comprising an elongated flexible walled container sealed at one end and provided at the other end with an annular neck member defining a restricted opening,

the container being adapted to contain liquid, an elongated nozzle with an intake end and a major portion of its length disposed within the container and having a forward discharge end portion protruding through the annular neck member, the nozzle being adapted to be slidably extendible from the container and when extended forming with the annular member a substantially liquid tight joint, a cap adapted to enclose the protruding end portion of the nozzle, said cap being removably securable to the annular neck member and for cooperation therewith to form a liquid seal for retaining the contents of the container prior to use, said nozzle having discharge orifices opening radially outwardly, and means within the cap for resiliently engaging the orifices, whereby the nozzle may be extended from the container by pulling on the cap, and when the nozzle is fully extended an additional pull will release the cap from the nozzle, and whereby upon compression of the container liquid contents therein will be conducted through the nozzle for discharge therefrom.

2. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which said means within the cap are radially inwardly extending detents.

3. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the annular neck member is threaded externally and the cap embodies a section threaded internally for securement of the cap on the container.

4. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which said means within the cap are in a dome thereof of reduced diameter relative to said annular neck member.

5. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the annular neck member is formed of resil-v iently yieldable material frictionally encircling the nozzle.

6. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the nozzle is provided with means adjacent the discharge end of the nozzle and outside the annular neck member to prevent the nozzle from being inadvertently pushed back into the container.

7. A self-contained syringe unit for personal hygenic use comprising an elongated flexible walled container sealed at one end and provided at the other end with an annular neck member defining a restricted opening, the container being adapted to contain liquid, an elongated nozzle with an intake end and a major portion of its length disposed within the container and having a forward discharge end portion protruding through the annular neck member, the nozzle being adapted to be slidably extendible from the container and when extended forming with the annular member a substantially liquid tight joint, a cap adapted to enclose the protruding end portion of the nozzle, said annular neck member having external threads, said cap having internal threads for removable securement to said external threads on said annular neck member and for cooperating therewith to form a liquid seal for retaining the contents of the container prior to use when the respective threads are securely engaged, means on said nozzle adjacent the intake end engageable with the annular neck member to prevent total withdrawal of the nozzle from the container, the cap embodying a dome of reduced diameter relative to the threaded section, the nozzle having discharge orifices opening radially outwardly, and the dome embodying detents for resiliently engaging the orifices and being forcibly detachable therefrom by an axial pull.

tainer may berestrained while the sleeve is being advanced.

10. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 7 in which the nozzle is formed with grooves leading from the discharge orifices forwardly, and the dome is formed with ribs terminating in the detents, the grooves receiving the ribs and guiding the detents for positioning with the orifices upon assembly. 

1. A self-contained syringe unit for personal hygenic use comprising an elongated flexible walled container sealed at one end and provided at the other end with an annular neck member defining a restricted opening, the container being adapted to contain liquid, an elongated nozzle with an intake end and a major portion of its length disposed within the container and having a forward discharge end portion protruding through the annular neck member, the nozzle being adapted to be slidably extendible from the container and when extended forming with the annular member a substantially liquid tight joint, a cap adapted to enclose the protruding end portion of the nozzle, said cap being removably securable to the annular neck member and for cooperation therewith to form a liquid seal for retaining the contents of the container prior to use, said nozzle having discharge orifices opening radially outwardly, and means within the cap for resiliently engaging the orifices, whereby the nozzle may be extended from the container by pulling on the cap, and when the nozzle is fully extended an additional pull will release the cap from the nozzle, and whereby upon compression of the container liquid contents therein will be conducted through the nozzle For discharge therefrom.
 2. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which said means within the cap are radially inwardly extending detents.
 3. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the annular neck member is threaded externally and the cap embodies a section threaded internally for securement of the cap on the container.
 4. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which said means within the cap are in a dome thereof of reduced diameter relative to said annular neck member.
 5. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the annular neck member is formed of resiliently yieldable material frictionally encircling the nozzle.
 6. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 1 in which the nozzle is provided with means adjacent the discharge end of the nozzle and outside the annular neck member to prevent the nozzle from being inadvertently pushed back into the container.
 7. A self-contained syringe unit for personal hygenic use comprising an elongated flexible walled container sealed at one end and provided at the other end with an annular neck member defining a restricted opening, the container being adapted to contain liquid, an elongated nozzle with an intake end and a major portion of its length disposed within the container and having a forward discharge end portion protruding through the annular neck member, the nozzle being adapted to be slidably extendible from the container and when extended forming with the annular member a substantially liquid tight joint, a cap adapted to enclose the protruding end portion of the nozzle, said annular neck member having external threads, said cap having internal threads for removable securement to said external threads on said annular neck member and for cooperating therewith to form a liquid seal for retaining the contents of the container prior to use when the respective threads are securely engaged, means on said nozzle adjacent the intake end engageable with the annular neck member to prevent total withdrawal of the nozzle from the container, the cap embodying a dome of reduced diameter relative to the threaded section, the nozzle having discharge orifices opening radially outwardly, and the dome embodying detents for resiliently engaging the orifices and being forcibly detachable therefrom by an axial pull.
 8. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 7 which embodies a constrictive sleeve at the sealed end of the container, said sleeve being slidable over the container toward the annular neck member to compress the wall of the container and force the contents toward the annular neck member for discharge through the nozzle.
 9. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 8 in which a tab extends from the sealed end of the container beyond the constrictive sleeve, whereby the container may be restrained while the sleeve is being advanced.
 10. A self-contained syringe unit as defined in claim 7 in which the nozzle is formed with grooves leading from the discharge orifices forwardly, and the dome is formed with ribs terminating in the detents, the grooves receiving the ribs and guiding the detents for positioning with the orifices upon assembly. 